Method for operating a turbomachine having a syngas fuel supply system and a non-syngas fuel supply system

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of controlling a turbomachine having at least one fuel supply system that uses an unchoked valve. Here, the method may determine the flow characteristics of a fuel in a fuel supply system without using a flow meter. The present invention also provides a fuel supply system with a configuration comprising at least one unchoked valve. The fuel system may not require the use of a flow meter.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of operating a turbomachine comprising a plurality of combustion cans capable of burning a syngas, the method comprising:
 providing a syngas fuel supply system wherein the syngas fuel supply system is integrated with the turbomachine and the syngas fuel supply system comprises a syngas valve; 
 providing a non-syngas fuel supply system wherein the non-syngas fuel supply system is integrated with the turbomachine; 
 determining whether to operate the turbomachine under a syngas operation, wherein the syngas operation utilizes the syngas fuel supply system; and 
 determining whether the syngas operation is a solo mode or a co-fire mode; wherein the solo mode comprises utilizing the plurality of combustion cans to burn the syngas received from the syngas fuel supply system; and the solo mode performs the steps of: 
 determining a fuel stroke reference (FSR); 
 utilizing the FSR to determine a flow reference; 
 utilizing the flow reference to determine a critical flow capacity (Cg) of the syngas valve; 
 utilizing the Cg to determine a required position of the syngas valve; and 
 adjusting the syngas valve to the required position; and wherein the co-fire mode comprises utilizing the plurality of combustion cans to burn the syngas received from the syngas fuel supply system and to burn a non-syngas received from the non-syngas fuel supply system. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of utilizing the flow reference to determine a Cg of the syngas valve comprises receiving a plurality of operating data. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of operating data comprises at least one of the following:
 a molecular weight of the syngas used in the syngas fuel supply system; 
 a pressure of the syngas upstream of the syngas valve; 
 a temperature of the syngas upstream of the syngas valve; and 
 a differential pressure of the syngas valve. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the solo mode provides at least one notification on a status of the turbomachine operation. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein operating the co-fire mode performs the steps of:
 receiving at least one turbomachine operational target; 
 determine a fuel source ratio, wherein the fuel source ratio comprises a split between the syngas and the non-syngas consumed by the turbomachine to meet the at least one turbomachine operational target; 
 receiving a target pressure value for a syngas manifold that provides the syngas consumed by the turbomachine; and 
 adjusting a position of the syngas valve to meet the target pressure of the syngas manifold. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein operating the co-fire mode further performs the steps of:
 receiving a non-syngas FSR target; and 
 adjusting a stroke of a non-syngas valve to meet the non-syngas FSR target. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein operating the co-fire mode further performs the step of determining whether the at least one turbomachine operational target is satisfied. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein operating the co-fire mode provides at least one notification on a status of the turbomachine operation. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  further comprising controlling the syngas fuel supply system and the non-syngas fuel supply system with a turbine control system. 
     
     
       10. A method for controlling and operating a turbomachine comprising:
 operating a turbomachine comprising a plurality of combustion cans; 
 operating a syngas fuel supply system integrated with the turbomachine, wherein the syngas fuel supply system comprises at least one syngas valve; 
 operating a turbine control system comprising a syngas controller and a non-syngas controller; wherein the turbine control system: controls an operation of the syngas fuel supply system; operates the syngas operation under a solo mode or a co-fire mode; and the solo mode performs the steps of: 
 determining a fuel stroke reference (FSR); 
 utilizing the FSR to determine a flow reference; 
 utilizing the flow reference to determine a critical flow capacity (Cg) of the syngas valve; 
 utilizing the Cg to determine a position of the at least one syngas valve; 
 and adjusting the at least one syngas valve to the position utilizing the Cg to determine a required position of the syngas valve; and 
 adjusting the syngas valve to the required position; and 
 
       wherein the solo mode comprises operating the turbomachine utilizing the syngas fuel supply system; and wherein the co-fire mode comprises operating the turbomachine utilizing the syngas fuel supply system and a non-syngas fuel supply system. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the turbine control system receives a plurality of operating data. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of operating data comprises at least one of the following:
 a molecular weight of a syngas used in the syngas fuel supply system; 
 a pressure of the syngas upstream of the at least one syngas valve; 
 a temperature of the syngas upstream of the at least one syngas valve; and 
 a differential pressure of the at least one syngas valve. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the turbine control system provides at least one notification on a status of the turbomachine. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the turbine control system operating the turbomachine in the co-fire mode:
 receives at least one turbomachine operational target; 
 determines a fuel source ratio, wherein the fuel source ratio comprises a split between the syngas and a non-syngas consumed by the turbomachine to meet the at least one turbomachine operational target; 
 receives a target pressure of a syngas manifold; and 
 adjusts a position of the syngas valve to meet the target pressure of the syngas manifold pressure. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the turbine control system:
 receives a non-syngas FSR target; and 
 adjusts a position of at least one non-syngas valve to meet the non-syngas FSR target. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the turbine control system determines whether the at least one turbomachine operational target is satisfied. 
     
     
       17. A method of operating a turbomachine comprising a plurality of combustion cans capable of burning a syngas, the method comprising:
 providing a syngas fuel supply system wherein the syngas fuel supply system is integrated with the turbomachine and the syngas fuel supply system comprises a syngas valve; 
 providing a non-syngas fuel supply system wherein the non-syngas fuel supply system is integrated with the turbomachine; 
 determining whether to operate the turbomachine under a syngas operation, wherein the syngas operation utilizes the syngas fuel supply system; and 
 determining whether the syngas operation is a solo mode or a co-fire mode; wherein the solo mode comprises utilizing the plurality of combustion cans to burn the syngas received from the syngas fuel supply system; and the solo mode performs the steps of: 
 determining a fuel stroke reference (FSR); 
 utilizing the FSR to determine a flow reference; 
 utilizing the flow reference to determine a critical flow capacity (Cg) of the syngas valve; comprising receiving a plurality of operating data; wherein the plurality of operating data comprises at least one of the following: a molecular weight of the syngas used in the syngas fuel supply system; a pressure of the syngas upstream of the syngas valve; a temperature of the syngas upstream of the syngas valve; and a differential pressure of the syngas valve; 
 utilizing the Cg to determine a required position of the syngas valve; 
 adjusting the syngas valve to the required position; and 
 providing at least one notification on a status of the turbomachine operation; and wherein the co-fire mode comprises utilizing the plurality of combustion cans to burn the syngas received from the syngas fuel supply system and to burn a non-syngas received from the non-syngas fuel supply system. 
 
     
     
       18. A method for controlling and operating a turbomachine comprising:
 operating a turbomachine comprising a plurality of combustion cans; 
 operating a syngas fuel supply system integrated with the turbomachine, wherein the syngas fuel supply system comprises at least one syngas valve; 
 operating a turbine control system comprising a syngas controller and a non-syngas controller; wherein the turbine control system: 
 controls an operation of the syngas fuel supply system; 
 operates the syngas operation under a solo mode or a co-fire mode; and the solo mode performs the steps of: 
 determining a fuel stroke reference (FSR); 
 utilizing the FSR to determine a flow reference; 
 utilizing the flow reference to determine a critical flow capacity (Cg) of the syngas valve; comprising receiving a plurality of operating data; wherein the plurality of operating data comprises at least one of the following: a molecular weight of the syngas used in the syngas fuel supply system; a pressure of the syngas upstream of the syngas valve; a temperature of the syngas upstream of the syngas valve; and a differential pressure of the syngas valve; 
 utilizing the Cg to determine a required position of the syngas valve; and 
 adjusting the at least one syngas valve to the required position; and wherein the solo mode comprises operating the turbomachine utilizing the syngas fuel supply system; and wherein the co-fire mode comprises operating the turbomachine utilizing the syngas fuel supply system and a non-syngas fuel supply system.